During a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debated the decline of democracy and the threat to political pluralism in Georgia. PiS MEPs Małgorzata Gosiewska and Adam Bielan spoke during the discussion.
Małgorzata Gosiewska stated that she has supported a democratic Georgia on its path to the European Union for years. She added that she had admired the country’s development following the Rose Revolution and the reforms that brought it closer to European standards. “After Bidzina Ivanishvili took power, I watched with sorrow as the country gradually declined and became subservient to Moscow’s policies,” the Polish politician stated. She noted that one of Ivanishvili’s political prisoners is former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. To best illustrate the situation in Georgia, Gosiewska quoted an excerpt from a letter she had received the day before from former President Saakashvili, who is currently being held in prison:
“Dear Members of the European Parliament. In a few weeks, on the eastern edge of Europe—in Georgia—there may be a great victory for Europe, democracy, and peace, or a tremendous tragedy. In this struggle, public sentiment in Georgia is unequivocal. The overwhelming majority of citizens support Europe and freedom, and do not want to return to Russia’s sphere of influence. On the other side stands a Russian oligarch. He is prepared to do anything to cling to power and is preparing to rig the upcoming elections, just as he seized control of the entire country. Democracy in Georgia is in mortal danger. In just over two weeks, we will face a regime that lost the election but will not recognize the results—likely by suppressing hundreds of thousands of protesters, arresting thousands, and perhaps using lethal force. This is classic déjà vu from Belarus and Venezuela. Do not let a country that once captivated the world with the Rose Revolution be tragically cut off from its true dream of belonging to Europe. Come and observe the elections! Express your support for the Georgian people!” (full text of the letter in the attachment)
Adam Bielan stated that the upcoming elections in Georgia will likely be the most important since the Rose Revolution, as they will determine the country’s direction for the coming years or even decades. He also noted that although integration with NATO and the European Union is enshrined in the Georgian constitution, for years we have observed a disturbing and increasingly strong trend in the current government’s policies, aimed at rebuilding relations with Russia and effectively distancing the country from the West. “We strongly call for the imposition of personal sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili, an oligarch who effectively controls Georgian politics, as well as on leading politicians of the Georgian Dream party, who are responsible for the persecution of opposition members and representatives of civil society,” the MEP appealed. The Polish politician also called for the repeal of the Russian-style “foreign agents” law, which effectively prevents non-governmental organizations—which have traditionally been very active in Georgia—from continuing their work in the country. He also recalled that Georgians have consistently sought membership in the EU and NATO for many years and added that “we cannot allow these aspirations to be squandered.” “We must remember that the Georgian people, as a nation, deserve to become part of Europe,” he noted.
